Heavy rains caused rushing waters under the Stone Arch Bridge where a couple paused to photograph themselves kissing over the lunch hour, Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Glen Stubbe, Star Tribune

3 locks on Mississippi River closed to recreational vessels

Star Tribune

June 23, 2012 - 12:25 AM

The three lock and dam systems on the Mississippi River in the Twin Cities closed Friday morning to recreational vessels because of increasingly high water flow, officials said.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers added that the same will likely apply to commercial traffic as well before the weekend is over.

This is the second time this year the locks have closed due to excessive rain. They were closed May 28 to recreational traffic because of unsafe conditions and were reopened June 8.

The Upper St. Anthony Falls and Lower St. Anthony Falls lock and dams in downtown Minneapolis, and Lock and Dam 1 next to Minnehaha Park in Minneapolis, close to recreational boats when flows reach 30,000 cubic feet per second. Commercial traffic is idled when the flow reaches 40,000 cubic feet per second.